Hardcore Punk is a subgenre of Punk Rock which originated in North America in the late 70's. The sound is thicker, heavier, and faster than 1970s-style Punk Rock. It is characterized by short, loud, and passionate songs.

It was call Punk at first and not Punk Rock as classic Punk was called. In the ealy 80's it was called Hardcore Punk

Hardcore Punk started in L.A with the band Black Flag and in D.C with the band Minor Threat and Bad Brains; which are the big three bands of early Hardcore Punk.

In the 90's heavy metal bands tried to get into Hardcore with out being Punk. Which is not Hardcore at all. The Hardcore movent and sound is still Punk and always will be. Metalcore is metal music not Hardcore Punk. There is still Harcore Punk bands around today, and that are not metal bands claiming to be Hardcore with out being Punk. A few of them are,

The Casualties
Cheap Sex
Devotchka
Dropkick Murphys
Lower Class Brats
No Use For A Name
Pennywise
Rise Against
Suicide Machines
The Unseen
And more.

Hardcore is Punk music. Its not a fourm of Metal music. Its short for Hardcore Punk.